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suzannalundale's review
3.0
2.5
Super instalove, with some seriously cheesy dialogue, especially towards the end, but the idea of wallflowers essentially doing a montage and then taking the ton by storm is pretty fun.
Super instalove, with some seriously cheesy dialogue, especially towards the end, but the idea of wallflowers essentially doing a montage and then taking the ton by storm is pretty fun.
readbooks_eatapples's review
2.0
The first half: 3.5 stars, fun and well-written, nicely paced if a little obvious at times.
The second half: 1 star, insipid, predictable, wildly off pacing.
I want my time back from this one. What happened here? It's like the author had a fun idea with decent characters, worked hard on it for the first few chapters, and then she half-assed it about halfway through after selling the first bit to the publisher. Did a green editor pick up after a more experienced one started with the first part? I won't be bothering with the rest of the series.
The second half: 1 star, insipid, predictable, wildly off pacing.
I want my time back from this one. What happened here? It's like the author had a fun idea with decent characters, worked hard on it for the first few chapters, and then she half-assed it about halfway through after selling the first bit to the publisher. Did a green editor pick up after a more experienced one started with the first part? I won't be bothering with the rest of the series.
jaclynder's review
2.0
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
The Bride Behind the Curtain is the first in what appears to be a three-part series. After reading the first part, I believe that each part is novella length and features a different romantic couple. Considering the open ending to Bride Behind the Curtain, I think it's safe to assume that all three novellas are going to be strongly tied to one another.
Bride Behind the Curtain started out really strong. Awkward wallflower meets devilishly handsome Frenchman and an unexpected romance ensues. Adele Edmundson is that wallflower and James Beauclaire the French expatriate. After a happenstance meeting, the pair can't stop thinking about each other. For Adele's part, she doesn't believe that such a dashing and handsome man could be attracted to her. And for James' part, he should be on the lookout for a malleable heiress to support his impoverished family. Of course, neither gets what they bargained for. I really liked the beginning of Bride Behind the Curtain. Adele and James were great characters and the romantic tension that the author created between the two of them was perfection. The setup was great, and I also liked the fact that Adele started to develop her own confidence separate from James. They were worried about a scandal if they were "together" in public too soon and that reasoning worked in Adele's favour, allowing her time to develop her own confidence. I appreciate the fact that the romance doesn't solve either Adele or James' problems.
At about the halfway mark, I felt that the novella lost it's steam. Adele and James are quick to declare their love for each other, which is always a little suspect in the novella format. However, what I found most troublesome was the fact that in the later half the two didn't really spend that much time together. The fell in love quickly. Fine. But there was nothing to substantiate those feelings. I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder?
I also wasn't expecting Bride Behind the Curtain to end so inconclusively. When I learned of the author's three novellas, I simply assumed that they were three interconnected novellas: short, but complete. However, the Regency Makeover trilogy reads more like a serial novel in three parts than three separate novellas. I am not a fan of the serial format, so I wasn't thrilled about the way Bride Behind the Curtain ended.
Would I read the next two installments? That's a tricky question. I really liked the characters that the author created and I'm curious to learn more about the other ladies the author is going to focus on. However, the format overall is a real turn off for me. Perhaps if I could read the entire collection at once...
At any rate, I enjoyed the writing style of the author and that alone make me interested in other titles by Darcie Wilde. Since I also have an advance copy of Wilde's historical mystery, A Useful Woman, I am suddenly wanting to shuffle my to-read list to move that one closer to the top.
pavedwithbookss's review
3.0
I don't read a lot of historical romance, but two things drew my attention to The Bride Behind the Curtain. One was the author; I loved her Regency mystery novel and wanted to read more. The other was the premise of the story itself; I'm always drawn to wallflowers and characters who struggle to fit society's standards, and Adele is exactly that. I figured I was going in for a charming read with relatable characters, and that was what I got.
Let's talk about my favourite thing first: the leading lady. Adele is highly relateable to me in her self-consciousness and slightly awkward manners. I was initially wary of the makeover arch, that it might involve that trope where the plump girl loses weight and becomes society-approved kind of beautiful in order to win true love. Thankfully, that didn't happen! There was weight loss involved, but the story didn't focus on what she was or wasn't eating; it focused on her following a passion and gaining autonomy. That made me happy.
I squirm a little whenever insta-love happens, though I can live with it in this genre. There was definitely chemistry between Adele and James Beauclaire, and I enjoyed the course their relationship takes. James is lovable as a romantic hero in his gentleness, and I like his personal journey. I just wish we had more pages to explore that journey.
In fact, the biggest let-down for me is how slim this book is. There were plenty of exciting storylines to follow - The Wallflower Pact, the romance, James' struggles, Adele's family dynamics, James' family dynamics - but not enough space to let them all play out in depth. I'm aware that this is the first book in a trilogy, so perhaps it was deliberate that some things were left vague.
All in all, this was a sweet read with fascinating heroines. I would have liked to have some parts of it elaborated on, but historical romance fans looking for a quick read would enjoy it as it is. As for me, I want to know more about our wallflowers, so I will be reading on!
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is 15/03/2016.)
Let's talk about my favourite thing first: the leading lady. Adele is highly relateable to me in her self-consciousness and slightly awkward manners. I was initially wary of the makeover arch, that it might involve that trope where the plump girl loses weight and becomes society-approved kind of beautiful in order to win true love. Thankfully, that didn't happen! There was weight loss involved, but the story didn't focus on what she was or wasn't eating; it focused on her following a passion and gaining autonomy. That made me happy.
I squirm a little whenever insta-love happens, though I can live with it in this genre. There was definitely chemistry between Adele and James Beauclaire, and I enjoyed the course their relationship takes. James is lovable as a romantic hero in his gentleness, and I like his personal journey. I just wish we had more pages to explore that journey.
In fact, the biggest let-down for me is how slim this book is. There were plenty of exciting storylines to follow - The Wallflower Pact, the romance, James' struggles, Adele's family dynamics, James' family dynamics - but not enough space to let them all play out in depth. I'm aware that this is the first book in a trilogy, so perhaps it was deliberate that some things were left vague.
All in all, this was a sweet read with fascinating heroines. I would have liked to have some parts of it elaborated on, but historical romance fans looking for a quick read would enjoy it as it is. As for me, I want to know more about our wallflowers, so I will be reading on!
(I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is 15/03/2016.)
asmyr42's review
3.0
2.5
Super instalove, with some seriously cheesy dialogue, especially towards the end, but the idea of wallflowers essentially doing a montage and then taking the ton by storm is pretty fun.
Super instalove, with some seriously cheesy dialogue, especially towards the end, but the idea of wallflowers essentially doing a montage and then taking the ton by storm is pretty fun.
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